Seascape (by Benita J. Prins)

“All that fifteen-year-old Einur Landman has left in the world are his flock of sheep and his beloved little sister. The entire purpose of his life is to keep Lody safe from the Illyrië. But what he never expected was that it would be his own name that was drawn for the child sacrifice. Leaving Lody with his promise to return, Einur escapes into the wild where he meets a stranger who outlines a way to bring down the Illyrië. Forced to choose between Lody’s probable death and taking on the powerful Illyrië, Einur takes the latter.

In his quest from his mountain village, through countless dangers, to the sea itself, everything Einur believes will be tested. For Lody’s sake, can he make a final crucial choice and stand firm to the end?”

I enjoyed reading Seascape from the very first page. There is indeed a vein of originality in this beautiful book, the way the titles tell a story within a story is simply fascinating, and I must say that, at least in my opinion, there is a powerful symbolism in several of the events told in this fantasy novel. If Starscape proved that Benita J. Prins was a faithful disciple of Tolkien, Seascape is definitely a step forward, an expression of her own style, and certainly the beginning of a bright career for this promising young writer.